The U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis filed a motion today in response to a federal district court's ruling earlier this week dismissing the government's forfeiture complaint against the Ka Nefer Nefer mummy mask located at the St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM). The prosecutor asks the court for an extension of time to file a motion for reconsideration of the court's decision or to file an amended complaint.

The federal district court for the eastern district of Missouri on March 31, 2012 dismissed the government's action, saying that the complaint failed to allege specific enough facts to support a claim for forfeiture. The government's response today sets the stage to either file a revised complaint that meets the court's articulated demands or to appeal the court's dismissal order if a motion to reconsider the decision proves unsuccessful. The prosecutor asks for extended time to pursue these objectives because he states, in part, that he is in a trial expected to last through April 20.

UPDATE 4/11/12: Judge Autrey granted the prosecution's request, writing "PLAINTIFF GRANTED UNTIL 5-7-12 TO FILE WHAT IT SUGGESTS IS A MOTION TO RECONSIDER."